U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell said he wanted to “empower” conservatives in Europe, right-wing media platform Breitbart News reported.

“I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders. I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left,” Grenell told the conservative news site.

The ambassador added that “a lot of conservatives” in Europe had reached out to him about how they felt there was a “resurgence going on,” Breitbart said.

The comments from Grenell, a former spokesman for the U.S. at the United Nations during the Bush administration, have drawn some criticism over his apparent line-crossing when it comes to diplomatic norms.